About me

Tempting Bella by Diana Quincy‏

Although I’ve always loved reading and writing, I’m not one of those people who has always known I want to be an author.

I discovered my love of romantic fiction about four years ago, while picking up summer library books for my two boys. I noticed a historical romance by Shirlee Busbee on the end cap and picked it up to browse through while waiting in line to check out our books.

That’s all it took to hook me.

I spent that summer reading every historical romance I could get my hands on.

A few months later, I was motivated to try writing my own story, which resulted in my first manuscript, Compromising Willa.

Now I cannot imagine not writing.

I guess you could say I’m a late bloomer.

I’m now working on my fifth manuscript, which is my first foray into contemporary fiction.

When not bent over my laptop or trying to keep up with the laundry, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and dream of traveling much more than my current schedule (and budget) allows.

Online, you can find me on Twitter @Diana_Quincy and over at The Dashing Duchesses, where I blog about history and romance with a talented group of authors.

I am a proud member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), Washington Romance Writers (WRWDC) and the New Jersey Romance Writers (NJRWA).

I am fortunate to be represented by Kevan Lyon at the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Mirabella can hardly remember the man she married as a girl. And it’s just as well. She feels nothing but contempt for the man who married her for her fortune and promptly forgot she existed.

Since then, Bella’s had no use for the company of gentlemen — until temptation appears in the form of an olive-skinned stranger with haunting eyes the color of a turbulent sea.

Sebastian has been apart from his child bride since their wedding day, after a teenaged marriage forced upon him to rescue his family from certain ruin. His attempt to honor his vows to his absent wife have earned him the nickname, “The Saint.”

But when he encounters an enchanting impish beauty at the opera, Sebastian cannot resist learning who she is. He is thrilled to find she is none other than his long-ago bride.

Already resentful of his early abandonment, Bella is suspicious of her husband’s unusual activities —mysterious midnight outings and apparent liaisons with pretty servant girls. Then there is the mounting evidence that Sebastian is not who he claims to be.

Guarding the painful secret of his true identity, Sebastian is entranced by Bella. Delighted by his good fortune, he is eager to make her his wife in truth. But he soon realizes the beguiling lady has no intention of coming meekly to the marriage bed! Q) What inspired you to write this story?

Tempting Bella was inspired by the true story of an arranged marriage between a 13-year-old girl and the heir of a dukedom in order to settle a gaming debt between their fathers. The groom, Lord March, was disgusted at being forced to marry the plain girl and they immediately went their separate ways after the vows were said. Years later, March spotted an enchanting beauty at the opera and was delighted to learn she was his wife. The couple later became the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and they were known to have a happy and loving marriage. When I came across their story during my research, it was so romantic I thought it would inspire a terrific book!

Q) How long did it take you to write?

It took me longer than usual to write Tempting Bella, probably about eight months, because I started a new day job at the same time that took me away from writing. Of course, it takes several rounds of edits after that initial first draft to get the book ready for publication.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?

When the house is quiet and I fall into a Zen-like zone, my fingers fly across the keyboard and the story really starts to flow. It’s perfection in the writing process for me and there’s no other feeling like it.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?

Writers block! I think every writer experiences it. Luckily for me it is usually resolved by stepping away from the keyboard for a little while. Many of my most critical plot problems have been worked out while I take a shower!

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?

This is such a tough one, but maybe I would go with astronaut Neil Armstrong. I think it would be incredible to see Earth from space and to walk on the moon. On the other hand, if I want to be totally shallow, maybe I’d go for supermodel Gisele Bundchen, just to see what it’s like to be beautiful, successful and wealthy with a smoking hot body and an even hotter husband. (Although, I have to say my Mr. Q is a hottie in his own right.)

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?

I have no idea. But I’m pretty sure it no longer looks like what it did when I originally put it in the fridge L.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?

More books! Tempting Bella is the second title in my Accidental Peers series, about brothers and cousins who stumble into peerages on their way to finding true love. The others are Seducing Charlotte (April 2013), Compromising Willa (December 2013) and Engaging the Earl (April 2014).